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Is there any truth to the idea that some people's bodies are simply more prone to high cholesterol, regardless of what they eat?

Dwayne Stinton

Yeah, I have definitely heard this before! It's a real thing, apparently. Some people's genetics just predispose them to having higher cholesterol levels, even if they're trying their best to eat a healthy diet. It's really frustrating for those people, I can imagine.

Of course, that's not to say that what we eat doesn't matter. It absolutely does! Eating a diet that's high in saturated and trans fats is a surefire way to see your cholesterol levels go up. But even if you avoid those things and eat a ton of fruits and veggies and lean proteins, you might still struggle with high cholesterol if it runs in your family.

There's actually a term for this - familial hypercholesterolemia. It's a genetic disorder that affects your body's ability to remove LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) from your blood. This can lead to cholesterol buildup in your arteries and a higher risk of heart disease.

It's not super common - only about 1 in 250 people have FH - but it's definitely something to be aware of if you or someone in your family has struggled with high cholesterol. FH can lead to really high cholesterol levels from a young age, even if the person is otherwise healthy.

The good news is that there are treatments available for FH. Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise can still help, but medication might also be necessary. Statins are a common medication that can help lower cholesterol, but there are also newer drugs like PCSK9 inhibitors that work in a different way.

So to sum up - yes, some people's bodies just seem to be more prone to high cholesterol, regardless of what they eat. But that doesn't mean that eating well and exercising aren't important! And if you or someone you know has struggled with high cholesterol from an early age, it might be worth looking into FH as a possible cause.